The insurgence in the NIger Delta region seems to be coming back as a retired
Naval Officer and three serving personnel of the Joint Military Task Force code
named Operation Pulo Shield were yesterday shot dead in an early ambush mounted
by suspected sea pirates along the Angiama-Etelibiri waterways of Sagbama Local
Government area of Bayelsa state.
Also shot dead in the gun battle with the sea pirates was an unidentified
civilian.While another Civilian identified as the driver of the attacked Barge
was reportedly taken away.
Authorities of the Joint Military Task Force in Yenagoa confirmed that the
military personnel and other causality of the attack were detailed on official
escort of an oil Barge belonging to the Sterling Global Services Oil Company
limited. The destination of the Barge is however unknown.
Community sources told Journalists that three soldiers were killed and one
civilian, saying that the heavy sounds of gun shots triggered concern among the
indigenes of Angiama-Etelibiri community which lasted for hours.
The Military Authority through the head of the Joint Media Coordinating
Centre,Lt.Col. Onyema Nwachukwu ,confirmed the incident but declared that only
two soldiers of the JTF were killed and it was an ambush staged by unknown
gunmen.
According to Onyema,”I can confirm that some of our troops on board the
Sterling Global Oil Resources limited ran into an ambush along the
Angiama-Etelibiri waterways of Sagbama Local Government area of the state.There
was a shoot-out between the unknown gunmen and our troops.Two of our men lost
their lives and two other civilians injured.”
Onyema also confirmed the fatal injury to three of the unidentified gunmen,
adding however that heavy deployment of troops have been deployed to the area
and are on the trail of the unidentified gunmen.
The Community Source,Ebilade Tuoyor,confirmed that few hours after the
incident,heavy deployment of soldiers were noticed along the waterways.
